DCLM Daily Manna 2024: DCLM Daily Manna 6 September 2024: Only God Satisfies
Text: 1 Kings 11:1-12 (KJV)
1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
KEY VERSE: 1 Kings 11:3
“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”
From the magazine, Christianity Today, this quote is found: “The man or woman who does not know God demands an infinite satisfaction from other human beings which they cannot give, and in the case of the man, he becomes tyrannical and cruel. It springs from this one thing, the human heart must have satisfaction, but there is only one Being who can satisfy the last abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.”
King Solomon, in our passage, started well early in life. He listened to the counsel of his father, David, relied on God’s wisdom, but later deviated. Over time, Solomon forgot his own counsel and the wisdom of Scripture. God had given clear instructions for anyone who would be king in Israel not to amass horses, engage in the multiplying of wives and accumulate silver and gold. Thus, Solomon’s taking of many wives and concubines directly violated God’s word. And just as God had predicted, his heathen wives turned his heart away from God, and God’s favour departed from him.
In search of satisfaction, Solomon went on a wild goose chase. His lust drove him to marry many wives and acquire even more numerous concubines. He later testified in Ecclesiastes that the pleasure he derived from wine, women and wealth, was all vanity and vexation of spirit.
The story of Solomon’s excesses is popular. He used his God-given wisdom to amass wealth and get all that his heart desired. Like him, many spend their days in a mad rush to get wealth. Their search for satisfaction and joy outside God, invariably, yields no result. They eventually end up not deriving the satisfaction they crave. Only Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness in man’s hearts.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When you run to the world’s end without God, you’ll find no fulfilment.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 18-20
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Daily Manna 6 September 2024
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